My “Hebrew Bible” professor at the Episcopal School of Theology is James A. Sanders. I say this wiath unabashed pride as I have been given quite a gift, to be able to soak in a bit of the knowledge and experience from a true master.

When he first started to lecture/preach, and yes,Â he admits to doing both, I soon felt we were on the same page, with a similar ontological sense of a kindred theology.Â One day, in class,Â he put a name to it; this way of thinking, calling it a “Theocentric Christian Theology”.Â Besides constant reminders of our continuing monotheising process, I shall also never forget his admonishment that humanity tends to worship the gift over the giver.

Below is a sermon Dr. Sanders gave at last weeks chapel at the Episcopal School of Theology, Claremont, CA.

Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28

Credo in Unum Deum

James A. Sanders

According to the first three Gospels Jesusâ€™ first act of ministry, after doing some community organizing gathering his first disciples, was to heal a person of an unclear spirit.Â He thus showed the power of God over forces of evil in the world, a first act of affirming the integrity of the One God of All.
And Paul makes clear in his various letters to the early churches, that belief in the One God of All is the core of Christianity.Â Jesus taught in many ways that the very basis of biblical faith is belief in One God, even to the point of loving our enemies because their God is ours as well.Â And, of course, Deuteronomy made early efforts at affirming that there was but one Yahweh and what it can mean that there is but One God of All. Read More »